By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Côte d’Ivoire has signed a
National Alliance for Artificial Intelligence Pact bringing together government
and the private sector to accelerate the development and adoption of artificial
intelligence across the country.
The agreement was signed on
Friday, September 11, 2026, at the close of the second edition of IMPACT AI
2026 in Abidjan by Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation
Djibril Ouattara on behalf of the government, together with the presidents of
the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI) and the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire representing the private
sector.
The pact establishes a
framework for cooperation, consultation and joint programming designed to bring
public and private stakeholders together around a common national AI agenda.
Ouattara said Côte d’Ivoire
must accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and called on
stakeholders to translate the commitments under the pact into concrete actions.
“We need to accelerate the
adoption of artificial intelligence,” the Minister said.
The agreement focuses on
several priority areas, including improving the structuring and accessibility
of data, expanding digital infrastructure, developing AI-related skills,
supporting research and innovation, and promoting ethical and responsible use of
artificial intelligence.
The alliance is intended to
strengthen cooperation between government institutions and businesses as Côte
d’Ivoire seeks to move its AI agenda from strategy and experimentation towards
wider adoption and practical economic applications.
The government said the
partnership is expected to help create the conditions for artificial
intelligence to contribute to national competitiveness, innovation and economic
development.
